We are seeking a compassionate, motivated psychology assistant to join the Wellbeing Mental Health and Psychosocial Substance Misuse Team at HMP Eastwood Park .
This rewarding role is centred on delivering psychologically informed interventions to women residing on the prison's Incentivised Substance-Free Living (ISFL) Wing . The successful applicant will provide a range of individual and group-based interventions that promote recovery, wellbeing, resilience, and personal growth. You will work closely alongside prison colleagues, including prison officers, healthcare professionals, and substance misuse practitioners, to support individuals in achieving positive and sustainable change.
The Incentivised Substance-Free Living (ISFL) Wing aims to create a safe, supportive, and recovery-oriented environment for individuals seeking to address or maintain abstinence from substance dependence. The unit is founded on principles of safety, rehabilitation, empowerment, and hope, providing residents with the opportunity to focus on their physical, emotional, and psychological wellbeing whilst engaging in meaningful and purposeful activities.
The ISFL operates within a trauma-informed framework , recognising that many individuals in custody have experienced significant adversity, trauma, and complex life experiences.
As a Psychology Assistant, you will:
Deliver psychologically informed one-to-one and group interventions to support recovery and wellbeing
Support the delivery of trauma-informed and, where appropriate, trauma-focused interventions under the supervision of qualified clinicians
Develop therapeutic relationships that empower individuals to identify goals, build strengths, and maximise their potential
Encourage engagement with recovery, wellbeing, and purposeful activities
Support individuals in planning for their future, including preparation for release and community reintegration
Promote positive mental wellbeing through health promotion activities and awareness events, such as World Mental Health Day
Work collaboratively with prison staff and healthcare colleagues to ensure coordinated and effective care
Support qualified practitioners in the smooth and effective delivery of services
The success of the ISFL relies on strong partnership working between staff, residents, healthcare teams, and treatment providers to create and sustain a positive recovery culture that supports individuals to achieve their goals.
We are the lead provider of healthcare for people with serious mental illness, learning disabilities and autism across Bath and North East Somerset (BaNES), Swindon and Wiltshire, and Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.
We aim to provide High Quality, Compassionate Care everywhere, every day. This means our services will be safe, clinically effective and provide a positive all round experience for our patients, families and carers. And we believe passionately in treating everyone with kindness, respect and empathy.
Key to this is providing a supportive and safe environment for our 4,000 staff where we all feel welcome and able to do the best we can for those we support. Our staff and teams work incredibly hard delivering services across more than 90 locations, covering 2,200miles, to more than 1.8million people.
At AWP we actively encourage applicants from all backgrounds; we are particularly keen to encourage applications from people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, those with disabilities and from the LGBTQ+ community. We want people to bring their unique blend of experiences, backgrounds, perspectives and knowledge to AWP, as diversity makes us stronger.
Right to Work in the UK
This position is not eligible for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. Applicants must already hold the legal right to work in the UK at the time of application, as the organisation is unable to support sponsorship for this post.
Clinical
To support the Clinical/Counselling/Forensic psychologists within the base service.
- Where required, to prepare and deliver high quality psychological interventions under supervision, either individually or in groups.
- Where required, to offer high quality psychological assessments following instructions appropriate to the assessment tools/processes.
- To gather and organise information about clinical notes, relevant psychological interventions and clinical tools for use by other staff.
- To work alongside other team members and ensure close liaison and communication within teams.
- To work at level of autonomy appropriate to a Band 4 Assistant Psychologist. Goals to be agreed and reviewed in clinical/management supervision.
- To maintain a high degree of professionalism at all times when working with distressed people.
- To maintain clinical records, databases and other professional records as appropriate.
TEACHING AND TRAINING
- To undertake such training as might be required to maintain an appropriate level of expertise.
- To assist with the delivery of teaching and training for other members of the multidisciplinary team and staff in other agencies, in collaboration with qualified staff.
RESEARCH AND AUDIT
- Where required, to assist with the audit and evaluation of the service in collaboration with qualified clinical and counselling psychologists and other members of the multidisciplinary team.
- To compile and return statistics and activity levels as required.
- Where required, to undertake literature searches and reviews.
PROFESSIONAL
- To understand and practice in line with the BPS (2009) Code of Ethics and Conduct and the DCP (2008) Professional Practice Guidelines on the role
- To participate in team business and professional meetings as appropriate.
- To be aware of and comply with all policies, procedures and directions of the Department, Service
and Trust.
- To seek regular support and clinical supervision from a Practioner Psychologist.
- To participate in individual, group and peer supervision.
- To participate in meetings with members of nursing staff and MDTs as appropriate.
- To maintain accurate and appropriate records of work.
CLINICAL GOVERNANCE
- To participate in service governance processes to ensure a safe and effective service.
- To support and participate in multidisciplinary clinical audit.
- To liaise with other disciplines and agencies to ensure best practice is shared.
- To promote the use of effective interventions in the service.
GENERAL
- To assist in the production of resources and materials used by the service
- To assist with the general running of the Team/Service e.g. minuting department meetings.
We are looking for someone who is:
- Friendly, approachable, and emotionally intelligent
- Passionate about supporting people experiencing mental health and substance misuse difficulties
- Committed to working within a trauma-informed and recovery-focused model of care
- Skilled in developing positive therapeutic relationships
- An excellent communicator with strong interpersonal skills
- Motivated to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team
This role would particularly suit someone who enjoys working with individuals who may present with complex needs and who understands the importance of providing compassionate, person-centred support.
